Air-compressor.



No. 801,599. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. W. R. LEROY.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FfED NOV. 25, 1903.

PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.

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PATENTED OCT. l0, 1905.

W. R. LEROY. AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 25, 1903.

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lllll/ll/l/lO UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

AIR-COMPRESSOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed November 25, 1903. Serial No. 182,614.

To @ZZ 1.0700711, it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM R. LEROY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at VaShingtOn, in the county of Tashington and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAir-Compressors, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing' had therein to the accompanying' drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inair-compressors, and has for its object to provide an apparatus wherebythe air may be compressed to any desired pressure and delivered into areservoir or storage-tank from which the same may be utilized for anydesired purpose.

Briefly described, my invention comprises a pair of pumping-cylinders, aplurality of controlling or feed engines, and a suitable reservoir. Thepistons of these cylinders are so connected to the engine that while onecylinder is receiving the air the other will be compressing ythe sameand forcing it into the controlling-valve, from where it is delivered tothe storage-tank or reservoir.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and whereinlike numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews, in which- Eigure 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus,a portion thereof being broken away. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of thesame, showing the reservoir broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail view of oneof the bearings which support the main shaft of the engine. Eig. a is avertical sectional view of the pumpingcylinders and thecontrolling-valve. Fig. is a cross-sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.Fig. 7 is a crosssectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the pumping-cylinders. Fig. 9is a Vertical sectional View of the pumping-cylinder, taken on the line9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a crosssectional view taken on the line 1010of Fig'. 8. Fig. 11 is a similar View taken on the line 11 11 of Fig. 8.

Each compressor-cylinder, which is compound in form, is supported upon asuitable base, as indicated at 1, a portion of this base being brokenaway and shown in dotted lines to further illustrate the construction ofthe compressor', reference being had to Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thedriving mechanism or gear, as indicated at A, comprises a maindrive-shaft 2, which is supported within the bearings 3, these bearingsbeing' carried by a base-plate 4, this base-plate serving to support thepumping or compressor cylinders and the other mechanism of thecompressor upon the base 1. The base-plate 4: comprises twosupporting-beds 5 for the pumping or compressor cylinders, thesesupporting-beds being' connected at their outer ends by the brace 6, andfrom the forward end of the supporting-beds extends the base-plate whichsupports the mechanism of the driving-gear.

The bearings 3 are constructed at an angle` asindicated in Fig. Sof thedrawings, whereby when the driving power is applied to the compressorall stress will be taken up by these specially -constructed bearing's.Upon the main driving-shaft 1 and intermediate of the bearings 3 ismounted the belt-pulley 7', carrying' a belt 8, which may pass to anysuitable engine provided to operate the pistons in the pumping orcompressor cylinders. Upon the outer ends of the shaft 2 are secured theily-wheels 9, and upon this shaft is also mounted a pinion 10, which isadapted to mesh with a larger pinion, as indicated at 11, this pinionbeing carried by an auxiliary shaft 12, mounted in the horizontalbearings .14, which are secured upon the bed-plate 4. Upon the outer endof this shaft 12 1 provide the drive-wheels 15, which carry thecrank-pins 16 and 17, to which are connected the heads 18 and 19 of theconnecting rods or pitmen 20 and 21. The other end of these connecting'-rods are connected to slides 22, one of these slides being' omitted inthe drawings, owing to the position of the piston-head within one of thepumping-cylinders.

The slides 22 are of the ordinary construction and are mounted in theguides 23 241, which are carried by the ends of the pumping'- cylindersor compressors 25 26, the guides being' of the two-bar or four-barconstruction, which is commonly used. To the slides 22 are connected thepiston-rods 27 and 28, carrying upon their other ends the pistons 29,which operate in the cylinders 25 and 26. These cylinders, of whichthere are two in number, are each open at one end to receive the airdelivered from the other end to the reservoir. Casings 30 about thecylinders provide water-jackets 32 and 33, which are adapted to keep thecylinderin the cool state when the IOO IIO

same is in operation, and I provide the openings 34 and 35, whereby thewater may be admitted to the jackets for this purpose.

Formed integral with the casing 30, preferably upon its upper face, isthe raised enlarged portion 36, which contains a vertical passageway 37,and a longitudinal passage-Way along' the top of the cylinder, asindicated at 38. The inner end 39 of the cylinder is iianged, asindicated at 40, whereby a head 41 may be secured thereon to conduct theair from the chamber 31 to the passage-way 38 and thence to thereservoir. This head 41 is partially surrounded by a water-jacket 42,which when the head is secured upon the cylinder is in communicationwith the water-jacket 33 through the opening 43. (Shown in dotted linesin Fig. 8.) This head is provided with a vertical passage-way 44, whichcommunicates with an opening 45, formed in the rear wall 46 of the head41. The front wall of the head 41 is provided with a screw-threadedopening 47, in which is secured the plug 48, which has a recess 49formed in its inner face to receive a stem 50, carrying upon its outerend a head 51, which is vadapted to close the opening 45 in the rearwall 46 of the head when the piston 29 is receding from the end 39 ofthe cylinder, a spring 52 being provided upon the stem 50 between thisAhead and the inner face of the plug 48.

The piston 29 is adapted to fit the cylinder or air-chamber 31 snuglyand upon its periphery is provided with the packing-rings 53 toaccomplish this purpose. The piston 29 is formed of ashell 54, andformed integral with this shell is the spider or web 55, (see Fig. 10,)which carries an annular collar 56 to receive the end of the piston-rod27. The forward end of the piston is partially closed by the head 57 andformed in said head, centrally thereof, is a port or passage-way 58,forming communication between the rear part of the cylinder and theforward end thereof. Formed within this passage-Way or port 58 is aspider or web 59, similar to the spider 55 carried by the rear end ofthe piston, and operating through the central portion of this spider isa stem 60, upon the forward end of which is secured the head 61, whichis adapted when in the closed position to seat in the recess 62, formedin the face of the head 57. The stem 6() passes through a spider 63,which is formed integral with the shell 54 intermediate the end of thepiston and the head 57, and upon the outer end of the stern 60 issecured a nut 64, and upon the stem between this nut and the spider 63is secured a spring 65, which normally holds the head or valve 61 withinthe seat 62, formed in the face of the piston.

Mounted upon the raised or enlarged portion 36 of these cylinders arethe feed or controlling-valve casings 66 and 67, which may be securedthereon by any desired means, preferably by screw-bolts, as shown inFig. 4

of the drawings. These feed or controllingvalve casings are preferablycircular in form, the lower end being flanged,as indicated at 68,whereby the same may be secured upon the upper face of the cylinder.Prior to securing these controlling-valve casings upon the cylinders atubular guide 69, which carries extending fianges 70, is secured betweenthe anges 68 and the enlarged vertical portion 71 of the portion 36.These tubular guideways carry the guides or webs 72, through whichpasses the valve-stem 73. These tubular guides 69 are adapted to fit inan opening 74, formed in the base of the controlling-valve casings 66and 67, the upper edges of said tubular guides extending slightly aboveseats 75, formed within the casings 66 and 67. The upper ends of thesecasings carry the screwthreaded l'ianged openings 76, and intermediatethese openings and the seat 7 5 I provide webs or spiders 77, whichcarry an apertured annular portion 78, through which pass the stems 73,said stems carrying the valves or heads 79, which when in the closedposition are adapted to rest upon the seats 75 and close the centralpassage 80, formed in the tubular guides, and intermediate the valve 79and the spiders 7 0 are mounted the springs 81, whereby the valves 79will be normally.

held against the seats 75.

Supported from the casings of the controlling-valves, which latter Iherein term as auxiliary controlling-valves, is the casing 82 of themain controlling-valve. This casing is supported by pipes 83, one end ofwhich threads into the threaded openings 76 in the upper ends of casings66 67, while the other end of these pipes is fastened by bolts 84 to thevalve-casing 82. In order to establish communication between the chamberin the valve-casing 82 and the pipes 83, the said casing is providedWith openings 85. The lower end of the valve-casing 82 is partiallyclosed by a head 86, which is secured to the fianges 87 of the casing bymeans of the screw-bolts 88, and centrally formed in this head is anaperture 89, which in practice is controlled bya throttle secured to thebase 86 of the main controlling-valve casing. The upper end ofvalve-casing 82 is provided with an opening 90, over which may besecured the pipe 91, which leads to the reservoir or storagetank 92.Intermediate this end and the lower end of the casing I provide anannular collar 93, which partitions off the valve-casing into an upperchamber 94 and a lower chamber 95, and in the lower chamber 95 is placedthe annular casing 96, which is contracted at its upper end, forming acollar 97, which iits within the collar 93 of the casing. Formed withinthe sides of this casing 96 and diametrically opposite each other arethe openings 98,which when the casing has been placed in position areadapted to register with the openings 85 formed in the casing 82.

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Intermediate the ends of the annular casing 96 and integral therewith isformed a spider 99, similar in construction to the spiders 77 of theauxiliary valves, and adapted to pass through the spider 98 is avalve-stem 100, which carries a valve or head 101, while the other endof the valve-stem passes through a spider 102, formed integral with thecasing 82 in the chamber 941. This valve 101 is normally seated upon theseat formed by the contracted end 97 of the casing 96 and is normallyheld there by means of a spring 103, which surrounds the stemsintermediate the spider 102 and the valve 101` As heretofore stated, apipe 91 is secured to the top of the main Valve byrany desired means andis adapted to lead to the reservoir 92, which may be situated in anydesired position where the outlet 104e will be accessible. The reservoir92 is of the ordinary construetion, carrying a dome 105, a gage 106, anda safety-valve 107, whereby when the same is charged beyond its capacityan opening' will be found for the excess amount of air.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: Upon power beingapplied to the driving-gear A through the medium of the belt 8 or anyother desired operating' means the power of this shaft 2 is transmittedto the auxiliary shaft 12 by means of the pinions 10 and 11,respectively, and the pinion 11 being' of a greater diameter than thepinion 10 the speed of the pinion 10 is increased many times, and thisspeed may be regulated by changing the pinions to different sizes or maybe governed from the driving power. Willen the motion is transmitted tothe auxiliary shaft 12, the arrangement of the connecting rods or pitmenupon the pulleys 15 provides an alternating` movement between the twocylinders, whereby when one cylinder is taking air the other cylinderwill be compressing air and forcing the same into the controllingvalves.In describing the operation of the pistons within the cylinders the sameoperation applies to both cylinders at alternate times, and upon thepiston moving' to the forward end 39 of the cylinder all air containedwithin this cylinder is forced through the opening' 15, the pressureagainst the head or valve 51 causing the same to recede, permitting theair to pass through the vertical passag'e-way 44 into the passage-way38, from whence it passes to the controlling-valve. Upon the pistonreceding to the outer end of the cylinder the air is admitted to theforward end of the piston by the pressure of the air passing' throughthe port 58 and forcing' the valve or head 61 out of engagement with itsseat 62, whereby communication is established between the rear andforward sides of the piston, thus permitting another charge of air to bedrawn within the cylinder preparatory to forcing' the former charg'einto the auxiliary controlling-valvecasings. Upontheairentering thecontrolling-valve casings from the passage-ways 3S 37 it passes throughthe tubular g'uide 69 into the valve-casings 66 67, the pressure of theair forcing the valve-heads 79 upwardly, thus admitting the air, whichthen passes into the pipes 83 and into the mainvalve casing 82. ,lt willbe observed that when the air is passing' through valve-casing 67 valve79 is seated within valve-casing 66, owing' to the arrangement of theconnecting-rods 20 21 with the drive-wheels 15, which provides thisalternating' pumping system. Prior to starting' the enginesl thethrottle carried by the head 8G of the main valve and controlling theopening 89 thereof is opened, whereby the air may have a direct andunretarded passage until the engines and cylinders have been placed ingood working' order, when the throttle is again closed and the pressureof the air upon the valve-head 101 will raise the same and permit theair to pass in its compressed state to the reservoir or storag'e-tank92, the valve-head 101 remaining closed when the throttle is opened. Theconstruction of the webs or spiders 77, 99, and 102 permits a directpassage of the air to the dierent valvecasing's, and when the air hasaccumulated sufciently to overcome the tension of the springs 81 and 103the valves 79 101 will rise, whereby direct passage is obtained to thereservoir 92, from which the air may be used for any desired purpose`from the outlet 10e.

It will be noted that I employ a cylinder having a long base and a smalldiameter, whereby a long stroke is accomplished, this having' inpractice been found more desirable than the employment of a cylinder ofgreater diameter and shorter stroke.

Having fully described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an air-compressor a pair of waterjacketed parallelcompressor-cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, means for operatingsaid pistons alternately in their forward and backward strokes, ports inthe pistons to permit air to pass therethrough during' the stroke of thepiston in one direction, valves closing said ports during the strokes ofthe piston in the opposite direction, an outlet-port in one end of thecylinder, auxiliary controllingvalve casings mounted on the cylindersintermediate their length, ports extending through the walls of thecylinders and establishing communication between said valve-casings andthe cylinders, a main controlling-valve casingin communication with areservoir, connections cstablishiiig communication between the maincontrolling'-valve casing and the auxiliary controlling-valve casing's,springpresscd controlling-valves in the auxiliary controlling-valvecasing's, an annular casing arranged within the main controlling-valvecasing and into which the air from the auxiliary-valve casings isdischarged, and provided IOO IIO

ISO

with a port in its upper end, and a springpressed Valve normally closingsaid port, substantially as described.

2. In an air-compressor, a pair of horizontally-disposed parallelcompressor-cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, and means for drivingsaid pistons alternately in their forward and backward strokes, ports insaid pistons, and means for closing said ports during the stroke of thepistons in one direction, an auX- iliary controlling-valve casingmounted on each cylinder and in communication therewith, spring-pressedvalves in said valve-casings, tubular guides extending into theValvecasings and on which said valves seat, a main controlling-Valvecasing, pipes establishing the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM R. LEROY.

Vitnesses:

A. M. WILSON, E. E. POTTER.

